The Idaho Vandals came into Malone Stadium on Saturday and lived up to their name as they stole the game late on a field goal by kicker Austin Rehkow to make the final score 34-31.

The game started with a fifteen-play drive by the Vandals so it was obvious that the Warhawks defense could be in for a long night ahead.

After three quick field goals early in the game, ULM found themselves behind 9-0 with no intentions of offensive pressure.

Quarterback Garrett Smith had a rough start throwing two interceptions in the first quarter that resulted in points on the board for Idaho.

“Give Garrett credit tonight, he took some really big shots, but he keeps battling and that’s what I love about him,” head coach Matt Viator said.

However, blame was not to be put solely in one aspect of the ULM football team, as the special teams unit would cost the Warhawks their first touchdown of the night.

After an attempt to punt by Dayton Balvanz was blocked, Idaho’s Kendrick Troter returned the block for 19 yards into the end zone.

With the Vandals up 16-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Warhawks would try to regroup and make something of their offensive weapons.

One of those weapons was running back Ben Luckett; the Warhawks were able to get on the board with a 31-yard touchdown run by Luckett.

With the score now 16-7, it gave the home team sideline new life and a sense of encouragement and momentum. Even though the Vandals would respond with a drive of their own resulting in a touchdown, the Warhawks were able to continue their offensive success.

“We stopped making turnovers and I stopped forcing the ball, we calmed down as an offense and made plays that kept us in the game,” Smith said.

Smith and company went back to work and put together a 75-yard drive that ended in him taking matters into his own hands with a six-yard rushing touchdown to narrow the margin to 24-14 with the Vandals on top.

After the defense was able to stop the Vandals from advancing the ball following the kickoff, Smith was able to lead another key play in the comeback. He connected with receiver Xavier Brown for a 44-yard touchdown to pass to make the score 24-21 heading into halftime.

“Give Idaho the credit, they didn’t beat themselves. I thought we did some things better; we converted on third down. You just can’t turn it over like we did at the times we did,” coach Viator said.

Coming out into the second half of the game became much more of a battle for field position with less offensive strikes.

The Warhawks were able to tie it up early in the fourth quarter when Craig Ford connected on a 31-yard field goal making it 24-24.

Now with the game tied up, the Vandals looked to take the lead and did when Jordan Frysinger caught his first career reception for a 71-yard touchdown to put his team ahead 31-24.

With less than three minutes left in the game, the Warhawks were able to find rhythm and march down the field to set up a 30-yard TD reception by Ajalen Holley to tie up the game.

In the last sequence, the ULM defense was unable to stop the Vandals from advancing the ball and ended up setting them up for a 27-yard game ending field goal.

“We need to make plays that come our way. Any progress is better than being complacent,” defensive back Justin Backus said.

The Warhawks look to bounce back this week at home when they take on Texas State on Saturday Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. Come out and support your Warhawks on homecoming weekend.